The Interior Ministry is conducting command-and-staff exercises in Vitsyebsk to practise the actions of internal affairs bodies and internal troops “in special conditions”.
Interior Minister Ivan Kubrakou attended the drills. He criticised the first stage, which focused on theoretical aspects of ensuring public security, describing it as unsatisfactory. He made a number of personnel decisions and ordered a training seminar, the ministry’s press service reported.
During the second stage, several scenarios were practised in the field, including the search and detention of protest coordinators, the suppression of mass unrest, evacuation during a natural disaster, road blockades and hostage rescue operations.
Some security personnel played the role of protesters. To increase realism, they were given white and blue flags. After the “detentions”, some of the “protesters” were forced to kneel with their hands behind their backs, while others were made to stand against a fence in a spread position.
